Family mourns mother and 3-year-old killed in I-95 Virginia crash

Fox - 5 DC
30 followers
Nov 10, 2026
This Monday night with a mother
and her three-year-old daughter killed in a crash
involving an alleged drunk driver on Interstate 95.
This happened in Stafford.
Tonight, their family is speaking exclusively
with Fox 5 as they face unimaginable grief.
Fox 5's Regina Yurita is live in Tysons
and spoke with the women's sisters. Regina?
Yeah, Jim and Angie.
This is a loss that no family should ever have to go through.
Donna Palacios. She's 27 was 27 and her three year old daughter were
killed in a car crash involving an alleged drunk driver in Stafford.
Now tonight, an exclusive interview with Fox 5.
The woman's sisters are opening up about their loss.
Trying to stay strong from my mom
because I know my mom's she's not doing well. She lost her daughter and
And that's Alexa and Genesis Palacios,
Donna's younger and older sisters.
Fox 5 spoke with them just moments before they said
their final goodbyes at today's funeral.
And take a look.
This is Donna and Ruby, pictures the family shared with us.
They remember Donna as someone who was always laughing,
a woman who dreamed of being a mother
and whose world revolved around her little girl.
The crash happened early Friday morning on I-95 in Stafford.
Virginia State Police say 25-year-old
Malik J. Thomas of Fredericksburg,
an active-duty Marine, was driving northbound
while intoxicated when he crashed into the family's vehicle.
Donna, her fiancé, and little Ruby were all inside.
Donna and Ruby were killed. Her fiancé suffered serious injuries.
He remains in the hospital but is now in stable condition.
Thomas was not injured. He's currently being held behind bars
and is expected to have a bond hearing later this week.
Donna's sister says they want to make sure the names
of their two loved ones are never forgotten.
Always made everyone laugh, no matter how she was truly feeling.
She's very understanding and loved helping others,
even though she was in need of help.
She made sure everyone around her was good.
Ruby, she had a very strong personality.
Thank you.
Thank you.
She would make us laugh with her funny things she would do,
always making funny faces.
And Thomas now faces two counts of aggravated manslaughter.
Each charge carries a potential maximum of 20 years in prison.
Jim and Angie.
